John Plumtree plans to use Baby Bok utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit in the Sharks match-day squad for the Currie Cup final against Western Province.

Du Toit, who can play lock or flank, has been a key figure for the Sharks juniors in the U21 provincial tournament. He helped the team qualify for the semi-finals before they were knocked out by WP, who secured a 19-18 win at Kings Park thanks to a last-minute try.

Plumtree will promote the 20-year-old into the senior domestic squad for Saturday’s Currie Cup decider after his team’s disappointing line-out performances in recent weeks.

Du Toit has already played senior rugby for the Sharks this season during Super Rugby.

‘Our lineout work was not good [against the Bulls] and that’s one of Pieter-Steph’s strengths,’ Plumtree told Die Burger. ‘He is set to play a big role for us in Super Rugby next season, so it will be good for him to be part of the squad for the Currie Cup final.’

Du Toit featured for the Baby Boks during their Junior World Championship triumphant run in June, and also received a call-up to the Springbok training camps by Heyneke Meyer during Super Rugby.

Meanwhile, Plumtree also confirmed that there are no injury concerns after the semi-final victory over the Blue Bulls in Durban. Springbok tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis was taken off the field because of injury during the match, but is expected to be fit to play this weekend.